Mechanical movement



July 5, 1932. G. v. PEcK MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Filed April 5, 1929 2Sheets-Sheet 1 July 5, 1932. v v, c 1,865,704

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT Filed April 3, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 awwentoz GORDONM PEG/f gg lmflm m y a mechanical movement Fatented July 5, 1932 wrapSTATES.

PATENT OFFICE GORDON V. BECK OF BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY MECHANICALMOVEMENT Application filed, April 3, 1929. Serial No. 352,066.

the rotatable element in the interest of exact A adjustment and withoutthe requirement of manual skill.

Still another object of the invention is the turning of the rotatableelement in either direction through any angle up to 180 by means of asingle mechanical movement.

It is also an object of the invention to lock the rotatable element inadjusted position against turning in either direction by means of themechanical movement.

The invention further seeks to utilize the mechanical movement in theadjustment of one or more tuning elements or condensers, mounted upon acommon shaft, such as are found in radio receivers, as in the tuning ofthe receiver and thus to efi'ect automatic tuning.

It is still another object of the invention to efl'ect remote control ofthe tuning of a radio receiver as conveniently and with the same degreeof accuracy as can be attained by a skilled radio operator directlymanipulating the dials.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for theirattainment will be more apparent from the following detaileddescription, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,illustrating various embodiments by which the invention may be realizedand in which:

Figure 1 is a View, in plan, showing the application of the mechanicalmovement to a shaft common to a plurality of condensers in a radioreceiver to effect automatic tuning; the actuation of the individualmechanical movements being efi'ected through the instrumentality ofkeys.

Figure 2 is a view showing a wiring diagram and auxiliary parts by whichthe me chanical movements may be electrically actuated and particularlyby remote control.

Figure 3 is a view, in side elevation, showing the mechanical movementin what may be considered initial position, the key for manual operationnot being depressed.

Figure 4 is a side'elevational view similar to Figure 3, but showing thekey partly depressed.

Figure 5 is .a view similar to Figures 3 and. 4, but showing the keywholly depressed and themovement in equilibrium.

Figure 6 is an end view of the movement taken in the plane indicated bythe line 6-6 of Figure 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentaryview showing the resilient meansnormally tending to straighten pairs of the levers of the movement.

Referring first to Figures 3 to 7 for an understanding of the mechanicalmovement and its operation, a shaft is indicated at 10, the rotation ofwhich is desired through an predetermined angle. Mounted on the she. 10is a disk 11. Pivotally connected to the disk 11 and. preferably uponopposite sides thereof, respectively, are links 12 and 13.

These links 12 and 13 are shown as pivotally 3 connected, as at 14: and15, to the disk'll at equal radial distances from the shaft 10 and thepivots 14 and 15 are spaced throu h an angular distance of about 120.Linis 12 and 13 are equal in length and are pivotally connected at theirlower ends, as at 16 and 17, to a pair of somewhat longer links 18 and19, the lower ends of which are connected to a common pivot 20. Eachpair of links 12, 18 and 13, 19 may be considered as a toggle and thelinks of each toggle are given a tendency to lie in the same straightline by a resilient member 22 coiled at its midpoint about the pivot 20and turned inwardly at its ends 23 to engage outer edges of the links 18and 19 respectively as shown particularly in Figure 7 and, by a scissorsaction, tend to reduce the angle between the links 18 and 19.

For an understanding of the operation. of 1m the device in rotating theshaft, attention is first directed to Figure 3 in which it may beassumed that the shaft 10 has been rotated in counterclockwisedirection, as viewed in that figure, until the link 13 has been moved toa substantially horizontal position, as shown, resting upon the shaft10, the toggle 12, 18 being also bent (broken). When it is desired torotate the shaft 10 in a clockwise direction, the pivot 20 is moveddownwardly causing the right hand end (at 17 of the link 13 to be drawndownwardly by the link 19. Link 13 rests upon shaft 10 as a fulcrum andthus acts as a lever so that when the right hand end (at 17) is drawndownwardly ment continues until the pivot 20 reaches the position shownin Figure 5 at which time the links 12, 18 have been carried past thelower dead center and upwardly in a clockwise direction throughapproximately 60 from the vertical until the two straightened togglesassume identical positions upon opposite sides of the medium plane ofthe shaft 10. The tendency of the toggle 12, 18 to straighton is aidedby the spring 22 as will be understood. At this time any furtherdownward movement of the pivot 20 tending to draw downwardly the toggle13, 19 and rotate the disk 11 in a clockwise direction is resisted bythe similar downward movement of the toggle 12, 18 tending to move thedisk 11 in a counterclockwise direction and thus the disk and shaft arelocked in the desired position and are incapable of movement out of thatposition even to the extent of a fraction of a degree.

In order to effect a positioning of the shaft at any desired angle,adjustment of the disk 11 wlth respect to the shaft 10 is permitted bmounting the disk 11 for free rotation tliereon, the disk 11 beinglocked to the shaft at any desired position of adjustment by means of asetscrew 25.

It will be noted that when the links 12, 18 assume the position shown inFigure 4 as the disk 11 rotates in the direction of the arrow that meansare provided to throw the toggle joint 17 over to the other side of thevertical medium plane of the shaft 10. In the illustrated embodiment,the spring 22 or other resilient means is provided.

Obviously rotation of the shaft in a counter clockwise direction iseffected in the same manner. In this instance, the toggle 12, 18

weaves is utilized and will assume a position similar but the reverse ofthat shown in Figure 3, the link 12 resting on the shaft 10 as afulcrum.

Various expedients may be adapted to cause the downward movement of thepivot 20. In Figure 2 the pivot 20- is carried on the armature 30 of thesolenoid coil 31 so that, when the solenoid is energized and thearmature 30 drawn therein the pivot 20 is pulled downwardly, effectingthe actions heretofore described. In Figures 3, 4 and 5 manuallyoperable, devices are shown. The pivot 20 is carried on the .extremityof an arm the other end of which is loosely pivoted on a fixed shaft orpivot 41. Also carried upon the pivot or shaft 41, if desired, is a key50 which extends between the links 18 and 19 and rests upon the ivot 20.Wlfen key 50 is pressed, it turns a out the pivot 41 and obviouslycarries down with it the pivot 20. As illustrated the key 50 is manuallymaintained in its uppermost position by resilient means shown as thecoil spring 42.

The mechanical movement heretofore described is applicable in anysituation where a rotatable element is to be turned. For instance it isideally adapted to tuning a radio receiver or transmitter, rotatingadvertising machines, train station announcers, etc. In Figure 1 it isshown applied to a radio receiver. Rotatably supported in hearings instandards or frame members 45 is the rotatable shaft 10 shown ascarrying four adjustable condensers 46 and the usual graduated dial 47for hand tuning. The condensers 46 may be counterbalanced as at 48. Onthe common condenser shaft 10 are mounted a plurality of the mechanicalmovements heretofore described, each disc 11 of which is adapted to beadjustably mounted on the shaft 10 so that when the pivot 20 of thatmovement is depressed by the key 50 the shaft will be rotated throughthe requisite angle to bring the condensers 46 into proper position totune in the station desired.

It may be assumed that the key marked W N Y C is depressed then tuningthe radio receiver for the reception of the waves of station W N Y C.This depression of the key W N Y C causes the mechanical movementoperated thereby to assume the position shown in Figure 5 while theremaining mechanical movements will be caused to assume variousintermediate positions, for instance as shown in Figures 3 and 4. Totune in another station say K D K A, the key marked K D K A isdepressed, the mechanical movement of which may be assumed to be in theposition shown appearance sake the keys are all normallycal circuitincluding also a switch 60, so that when the circuit is completed byclosing the switch, the solenoid is energized and operates ashereinbeforedescribed. There being one circuit for each mechanicalmovement, there is thus one switch for each station to be automaticallytuned in and the desired station may be received by selection operationof the switches.

For remote control, the circuits may be connected with contacts in acoupling mem ber 62 to which a series of contacts or switches in aswitch block 63 may be connected as by a cable 64 so that tuning may beeffected from any point in the room.

Various adaptations of the mechanical movement of this invention willoccur to those skilled in the art as well as changes in theconfiguration of the component elements thereof and no limitation isintended by the phraseology of the foregoing specification orillustrations in the accompanying drawings exce t as indicated in theappended claims.

%Vhat I claim is:

1. 1m a tuning device for a radio receiver,

the combination, with a shaft adapted to.

move at least one tuning element, of a link connected to the shaft inspaced relation thereto; a link pivotally connected to the first namedlink, and means to pull the second named link away from the shaft.

2. In a mechanical movement, the combination with a shaft, of linksconnected to the shaft in spaced relation and at equal distance from theaxis of the shaft, links connected, respectively, to the first namedlinks, the last named links being connected together, and means to movethe last named links away from the shaft.

3. In a mechanical movement, the combination with a shaft, of linkspivotally connected at one end, respectively, to the shaft in spacedrelation and at equal distance therefrom, links pivotally connected,respectively, to the other ends of the first named links, the last namedlinks being pivotally connected at their other ends, and means to movethe last named pivoted connection.

4. In a mechanical movement, the combination with a shaft of a membercarried by the shaft, links pivotally connected at one end to the memberin spaced relation and at equal distances from the axis of the shaft,links pivotally connected, respectively, to the other ends of the firstnamed links, said last named links being pivotally connected at theirother ends, and means to move the last named pivotal connection.

5. In a mechanical movefnent,-the combination with a shaft of a memberadjustably carried by the shaft, links pivotally connected at one end tothe member in aced relation and at equal distance from t e axis of theshaft, links pivotall connected, re actively, to the other ends 0 thefirst name links, a lever to one end of which the last named links arepivotally connected at their other ends, and means to move the lastnamed pivotal connection.

6. In a mechanical movement, the combination with a shaft, of a membercarried by the shaft, links pivotally connected at one end to the memberin spaced relation and at equal distance from the axis of the shaft,links pivotally connected, respectively, to the other end of the firstnamed links, a statlonary pivot, an arm thereon to the end of which thelastnamed links are pivotally connected at their other ends, and .meansto rotate the arm about the pivot.

7. In a mechanical movement, the combination with a shaft, of a disc,means to secure the disc to the shaft, links pivotally connected at oneend to the disc in spaced relation and at equal distance from the axisof the shaft, links pivotally connected, respectively, to the other endsof the first named links, a lever to one end of which the last namedlinks are pivotally connected at their other ends, a stationary pivot towhich the lever is pivotally connected at its other end, and a secondlever also pivotally mounted at one end to the second named shaft andextending between the respective last named links.

8 In a mechanical movement, the combinatlon with a shaft, of a disc,means to ad ustably secure the disc to the shaft, links pivotallyconnected at one end to the disc in spaced relation and at equaldistance from the axis of the shaft, links pivotally connected,respectively, to the other end of the first named links, a lever to oneend of which the last named links are pivotally connected at their otherends, a stationary pivot to which the lever is pivotally mounted at itsother end, a second lever also pivotally mounted at one end to thestationary pivot and extending between the respective last named links,and yielding means engaging the last named links.

9. In a. mechanical movement, the combination with a shaft, of a disc,means to adjnstahly secure the disc to the shaft, links pivotallyconnected at one end to the disc in spaced relation and at equaldistance from the axis of the shaft, links pivotally con nected,respectively, to the other end of the first named links, a lever to oneend of which the last named links are pivotally connected at their otherends, a relatively stationary pivot to which the lever is pivotallymounted at its other end, a second lever also pivotally keys,

mounted at one end to the stationary pivot and extending between therespective. last named links, spring means to move the last namedlevertoward the first shaft and spring means engaging the last named links.

10. A mechanical movement, in combination within rotatable element, apair of toggles pivotally connected to each other at one end andconnected, respectively, to said rotatable element at a distance fromits axis and means to straighten the toggles.

11. A mechanical movement, in combination with a rotatable element, apair of toggles pivotally connected to each other at one end andconnected, respectively, in spaced relation to said rotatable element ata distance from its axis and means to utilize the respective toggles toturn the element in opposite directions.

12. In a tuning device for a radio receiver, the combination with ashaft adapted to move at least one tuning element, of a plurality ofpivoted keys and operable connections, re spectively, between the keysand the shaft to rotate the shaft through a predetermined ang 13. In atuning device for a radio receiver, the combination with a shaft adaptedto move at least one tuning element, of a plurality of pivoted keys,members carried with the shaft and operable connections respectivelybetween the keys and the members to rotate the shaft through apredetermined angle.

14. In a tuning device for a radio receiver, the combination with ashaft adapted to move at least one tuning element, of a plurality ofdisks carried with the shaft and toggles pivotally secured to each diskand movable by means of the keys, respectively, to rotate the shaftthrough a predetermined angle.

15, In a tuning device for a radio receiver, the combination with ashaft adapted to move at least one tuning element, of a plurality ofkeys, disks carried with the shaft, a pair of links pivotally secured toeach disk, links pivotally secured to the first named links,respectively, means to connect the last named links and engageable bythe keys, respectively, to rotate the shaft through a predeterminedangle.

16. In a tuning device for a radio receiver, the combination with ashaft adapted to move at least one tuning element, of a plurality ofkeys, disks carried with each shaft, a pair of links pivotally securedto the disk, links pivotally secured to the first named links,respectively, means to connect the last named links and engageable bythe keys, respectively, to rotate the shaft through a predeterminedangle and yielding means to return the keys to initial position.

17. In a tuning device for radioreceivers, the combination with a shaftadapted to move at least one tuning element, of a plurality of disks,means to adjustably secure the disks to at their other ends,respectively, a stationary I .pivot to which'the levers are pivotallyconnected at their'other ends, key levers also pivotally mounted at oneend to the stationary pivot and extending between the respective lastnamed airs of links, yielding means engagin the ast named links andtending to straig ten them and yielding means to return the key leversto initial position.

18. In a mechanical movement, the combination with a shaft, of linksconnected to the shaft in spaced relation and at equal distance from theaxis of the shaft, radii from the axis of said shaft which pass throughthe points of connection of the links defining an angle of less than180, links connected, respectively, to the first named links, the lastnamed links being connected together upon the opposite side of thecenter of the shaft from the connections therewith of the first namedlinks, and means to move the last named links away from the shaft.

19. In a mechanical movement, the combination with a shaft, of a membercarried by the shaft, links pivotally connected at one end to the memberin spaced relation and at equal distances from the axis of the shaft,links pivotally connected, respectively, to the other ends of the firstnamed links, said last named links being connected with provision forpivotal movement at theirgother ends and a lever adapted to move saidlast named connection away from the shaft.

20. In a mechanical movement, the combination with a shaft, of a membercarried by the shaft, links pivotally connected at one end to the memberin spaced relation and at equal distancesf rom the axis of the shaft,links pivotally connected, respectively, to the other ends of the firstnamed links, said last named links being connected with provision forpivotal movement at their other ends, a lever adapted to move said lastnamed connection away from the shaft and resilient means to return thelever to initial position.

a 21. In a tuning device for a radio receiver, the combination with ashaft adapted to move at least one tuning element, of a plurality ofkeys, disks carried with the shaft, a pair of links pivotally secured toeach disk, links pivotally secured to the first named links,respectively, means to connect the last named links, means whereby thekeys move the last named means away from the shaft, respectively, torotate the shaft through a predetermined angle.

22. In a device of the character described, in combination with arotatable element, of

movement being so related that in at least one, extreme position therotatable element is locked against rotation.

In testimony whereof I afiix In signature.

GORDON PECK.

